HOUGHTON — The No. 18 nationally-ranked Michigan Tech men’s cross country team is ready to race amongst the best in Division II at the NCAA National Championships in Seattle, Washington. The race takes place on Friday (Dec. 2) at the Chambers Creek Regional Park course hosted by Seattle Pacific University, with the men racing first at 2:15 p.m.

The races are a part of the DII National Championship Festival where SPU will host six national championships over the weekend. These championships include men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, women’s field hockey, as well as men’s and women’s cross country. For more information about the DII NCAA National Championship Festival, click here.

Tech earned an at-large bid to make their third-straight appearance at the National Championships, after placing fourth in the midwest region on Nov. 19. The fourth-place finish was highlighted by a program tying three All-Region performances coming from sophomore Drew Kolodge (eighth place), senior Clayton Sayen (11th place) and sophomore Sam Lange (15th place).

The trio are also the top-three returners from the team that placed 24th at nationals in St. Leo, Florida, last season as Kolodge placed 66th, Lange placed 94th and Sayen placed 113th.

Nick McKenzie, who earned Second Team All-Conference after his 20th-place finish, will also compete for the Huskies, last season, he placed 141st at the NCAA Championships.

The Huskies will have some new faces on the starting line, with Stephen Loparo, Tucker Ringhand and Kyle Samluk competing in their first National Championships.